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Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroshi Yamaguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Studying multisite binary and ternary protein interactions by global analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry data in SEDPHAT: application to adaptor protein complexes in cell signaling.

Multisite interactions and the formation of ternary or higher-order protein complexes are ubiquitous features of protein interactions. Cooperativity between different ligands is a hallmark for information transfer, and is frequently critical for the biological function. We describe a new computational platform for the global analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) data for the study of binary and ternary multisite interactions, implemented as part of the public domain multimethod analysis software SEDPHAT. The global analysis of titrations performed in different orientations was explored, and the potential for unraveling cooperativity parameters in multisite interactions was assessed in theory and experiment. To demonstrate the practical potential and limitations of global analyses of ITC titrations for the study of cooperative multiprotein interactions, we have examined the interactions of three proteins that are critical for signal transduction after T-cell activation, LAT, Grb2, and Sos1. We have shown previously that multivalent interactions between these three molecules promote the assembly of large multiprotein complexes important for T-cell receptor activation. By global analysis of the heats of binding observed in sets of ITC injections in different orientations, which allowed us to follow the formation of binary and ternary complexes, we observed negative and positive cooperativity that may be important to control the pathway of assembly and disassembly of adaptor protein particles.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Regulation of ATM/p53-dependent suppression of myc-induced lymphomas by Wip1 phosphatase.

The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is a key tumor suppressor that regulates numerous cell cycle checkpoints as well as apoptosis. Here, we report that ATM is a critical player in the regulation of apoptosis and lymphomagenesis in the presence of c-myc. In turn, deletion of the inhibitory ATM phosphatase, Wip1, results in ATM up-regulation and suppression of Emicro-myc-induced B cell lymphomas. Using mouse genetic crosses, we show that the onset of myc-induced lymphomas is dramatically delayed in Wip1-null mice in an ATM- and p53-, but not p38 MAPK- or Arf-, dependent manner. We propose that Wip1 phosphatase is critical for regulating the ATM-mediated tumor surveillance network.

Animals↗

Development of a substrate-based cyclic phosphopeptide inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2Cdelta, Wip1.

The wild-type p53-induced phosphatase, Wip1 (PP2Cdelta or PPM1D) is a member of the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family and functions as a negative regulator of the p38 MAP kinase-p53 signaling pathway. PPM1D is amplified or Wip1 is overexpressed in several human cancers, and it acts as a weak oncogene. Although inhibition of Wip1 may have therapeutic value, no specific inhibitors are available. In this study, we designed phosphopeptide inhibitors for Wip1 on the basis of its optimal substrate sequence. We found that phosphoserine-containing diphosphorylated peptides with the sequence pSXpY inhibited Wip1 phosphatase activity, whereas phosphothreonine-containing peptides with the sequence pTXpY were physiological substrates. Moreover, the X residue in the pSXpY sequence modulated inhibitor activity, and beta-branched amino acid-substituted (Ile or Val) phosphopeptides showed high inhibitory potencies. A thioether cyclic phosphopeptide c(MpSIpYVA) had a K(i) <1.0 microM. Two serine/threonine phosphatases, PP2Calpha and PP2A, were not significantly inhibited by the cyclic phosphopeptide with a nonhydrolyzable phosphoserine mimetic. A homology model of Wip1 bound to a cyclic phosphopeptide and site-directed mutagenesis helped to identify residues important for Wip1 inhibitor selectivity among the PP2C family. These results provide the first proof of concept of a specific inhibitor of the catalytic site of Wip1 and should be useful for developing potential anti-cancer drugs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of MobR, the 3-hydroxybenzoate-responsive transcriptional regulator for the 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase gene of Comamonas testosteroni KH122-3s.

Comamonas testosteroni KH122-3s is an aerobic soil bacterium that utilizes 3-hydroxybenzoate as a sole carbon and energy source. In this strain, 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (MobA) acts on the initial step of the degradation to produce 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, which is subsequently subjected to the meta-cleavage pathway leading to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Gene walking analysis of the upstream region of mobA revealed an open reading frame (mobR) that encodes a transcriptional regulator of the MarR family. Here, we report that MobR negatively regulates the expression of mobA, and that the repression is relieved by binding of 3-hydroxybenzoate, the substrate for MobA. A primer extension experiment was performed to determine the transcription start site for mobA and identified it at 83 bp upstream of the mobA start codon, accompanied by a typical sigma70-type promoter. The mobR gene was expressed in Escherichia coli cells and the recombinant product was purified to homogeneity. Gel mobility-shift assays and DNase I footprinting analyses indicated that MobR binds as a homodimer to an imperfect inverted repeat within the mobA-mobR intergenic region, with an apparent dissociation constant of 11.5(+/- 0.5) nM. The operator site is located between the start codon and the promoter region for mobA, suggesting that MobR functions as a transcriptional repressor for mobA expression. The results of effector-binding assays indicated that MobR, but not its isomers 4-hydroxybenzoate and salicylate, is released from the operator site by the addition of 3-hydroxybenzoate. This dissociation process is highly cooperative, with a Hill coefficient of approximately 2. In addition, CD spectroscopic studies demonstrated that MobR adopts two conformational states corresponding to the effector-bound and unbound forms. These results suggest that the MobR dimer possesses at least two effector-binding sites, and that the effector binding to MobR induces an allosteric conformational change required for dissociation of the protein-DNA complex.

4-Hydroxybenzoate-3-Monooxygenase↗

Crystal structure of 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Comamonas testosteroni has a large tunnel for substrate and oxygen access to the active site.

The 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (MHBH) from Comamonas testosteroni KH122-3s is a single-component flavoprotein monooxygenase, a member of the glutathione reductase (GR) family. It catalyzes the conversion of 3-hydroxybenzoate to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate with concomitant requirements for equimolar amounts of NADPH and molecular oxygen. The production of dihydroxy-benzenoid derivative by hydroxylation is the first step in the aerobic degradation of various phenolic compounds in soil microorganisms. To establish the structural basis for substrate recognition, the crystal structure of MHBH in complex with its substrate was determined at 1.8 A resolution. The enzyme is shown to form a physiologically active homodimer with crystallographic 2-fold symmetry, in which each subunit consists of the first two domains comprising an active site and the C-terminal domain involved in oligomerization. The protein fold of the catalytic domains and the active-site architecture, including the FAD and substrate-binding sites, are similar to those of 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) and phenol hydroxylase (PHHY), which are members of the GR family, providing evidence that the flavoprotein aromatic hydroxylases share similar catalytic actions for hydroxylation of the respective substrates. Structural comparison of MHBH with the homologous enzymes suggested that a large tunnel connecting the substrate-binding pocket to the protein surface serves for substrate transport in this enzyme. The internal space of the large tunnel is distinctly divided into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The characteristically stratified environment in the tunnel interior and the size of the entrance would allow the enzyme to select its substrate by amphiphilic nature and molecular size. In addition, the structure of the Xe-derivative at 2.5 A resolution led to the identification of a putative oxygen-binding site adjacent to the substrate-binding pocket. The hydrophobic nature of the xenon-binding site extends to the solvent through the tunnel, suggesting that the tunnel could be involved in oxygen transport.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

S100A11, a putative tumor suppressor gene, is overexpressed in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

PURPOSE: Recent microarray analyses revealed that expression of S100A11 is up-regulated in pancreatic cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of S100A11 with pancreatic carcinogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We measured S100A11 mRNA expression in various clinical samples related to pancreatic cancer and its precursor lesions, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: Levels of S100A11 were significantly higher in pancreatic cancer (n=22) and IPMN (n=18) bulk tissues than in nonneoplastic bulk tissues (n=22; P<0.0001 for both). Levels of S100A11 did not differ between pancreatic cancer and IPMN bulk tissues. In microdissection analyses, however, IPMN cells (n=21) expressed significantly higher levels of S100A11 than did cancer cells (n=23; P=0.003). The median level of S100A11 expression was higher in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia cells (n=6) than in cancer cells. In pancreatic juice analyses, cancer-related (n=24; P=0.004) and IPMN-related (n=18; P=0.001) juice expressed significantly higher levels of S100A11 than did chronic pancreatitis-related juice (n=23). CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that expression of S100A11, a putative tumor suppressor gene, is increased in the early stage of pancreatic carcinogenesis and decreased during subsequent progression to cancer. Analysis of the S100A11 level in pancreatic juice may be an effective tool for screening of patients with high-risk lesions that could progress to pancreatic cancer or detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer.

Carcinoma↗

S100P is an early developmental marker of pancreatic carcinogenesis.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to clarify the involvement and clinical significance of S100P in pancreatic carcinogenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined S100P expression in 45 bulk pancreatic tissues; in microdissected cells, including invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cells (20 sections), pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) cells (12 sections), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) cells (19 sections), and normal epithelial cells (11 sections); and in pancreatic juice samples from 99 patients with pancreatic diseases (32 cancer, 35 IPMN, and 32 chronic pancreatitis samples). We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR with gene-specific priming to measure S100P in these various types of samples. RESULTS: In bulk tissue analyses, pancreatic cancer and IPMN expressed significantly higher levels of S100P than did nonneoplastic pancreas (P<0.017 and P=0.0013, respectively). Microdissection analyses revealed that IPMN expressed significantly higher levels of S100P than did IDC (P<0.0001) and PanIN (P=0.0031), although S100P expression did not differ between IDC and PanIN (P=0.077). In pancreatic juice analyses, cancer and IPMN juice expressed significantly higher levels of S100P than did pancreatitis juice (both P<0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that measurement of S100P in pancreatic juice was useful for discriminating neoplastic disease from chronic pancreatitis (area under the curve=0.837; 95% confidence interval, 0.749-0.903). CONCLUSION: S100P may be an early developmental marker of pancreatic carcinogenesis, and measurement of S100P in pancreatic juice may be useful for early detection of pancreatic cancer or screening of early pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Cis-bis[(3-aminopropyl)dimethylphosphine-kappa2N,P]palladium(II) dichloride methanol solvate.

In the title compound, cis-[Pd(C5H14NP)2]Cl2.CH4O, the coordination geometry around the PdII center is distorted square planar, with a cis-P2N2 configuration of the two chelating (3-aminopropyl)dimethylphosphine (pdmp) ligands. The six-membered pdmp chelate rings adopt chair conformations, and pairing of the chairs designates the complex cation as a (Cs)-chair2 conformer. The distances between the PdII center and the Cl- anions are greater than 4.5 A, indicating no obvious interaction.

Journal Article↗

Wip1 phosphatase modulates ATM-dependent signaling pathways.

Deletion of Ppm1d, the gene encoding the Wip1 phosphatase, renders cells resistant to transformation and mice resistant to tumor development. Here, we report that deficiency of Wip1 resulted in activation of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. In turn, overexpression of Wip1 was sufficient to reduce activation of the ATM-dependent signaling cascade after DNA damage. Wip1 dephosphorylated ATM Ser1981, a site critical for ATM monomerization and activation, and was critical for resetting ATM phosphorylation as cells repaired damaged DNA. We propose that the Wip1 phosphatase is an integral component of an ATM-dependent signaling pathway.

Animals↗

Oligomerization of signaling complexes by the multipoint binding of GRB2 to both LAT and SOS1.

Receptor oligomerization is vital for activating intracellular signaling, in part by initiating events that recruit effector and adaptor proteins to sites of active signaling. Whether these distal molecules themselves oligomerize is not well appreciated. In this study, we examined the molecular interactions of the adaptor protein GRB2. In T cells, the SH2 domain of GRB2 binds phosphorylated tyrosines on the adaptor protein LAT and the GRB2 SH3 domains associate with the proline-rich regions of SOS1 and CBL. Using biochemical and biophysical techniques in conjunction with confocal microscopy, we observed that the simultaneous association of GRB2, via its SH2 and SH3 domains, with multivalent ligands led to the oligomerization of these ligands, which affected signaling. These data suggest that multipoint binding of distal adaptor proteins mediates the formation of oligomeric signaling clusters vital for intracellular signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Nuclear factor-kappaB contributes to hedgehog signaling pathway activation through sonic hedgehog induction in pancreatic cancer.

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which functions as an organizer in embryonic development, is implicated in the development of various tumors. In pancreatic cancer, pathway activation is reported to result from aberrant expression of the ligand, sonic Hh (Shh). However, the details of the mechanisms regulating Shh expression are not yet known. We hypothesized that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a hallmark transcription factor in inflammatory responses, contributes to the overexpression of Shh in pancreatic cancer. In the present study, we found a close positive correlation between NF-kappaB p65 and Shh expression in surgically resected pancreas specimens, including specimens of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We showed that blockade of NF-kappaB suppressed constitutive expression of Shh mRNA in pancreatic cancer cells. Further activation of NF-kappaB by inflammatory stimuli, including interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and lipopolysaccharide, induced overexpression of Shh, resulting in activation of the Hh pathway. Overexpression of Shh induced by these stimuli was also suppressed by blockade of NF-kappaB. NF-kappaB-induced Shh expression actually activated the Hh pathway in a ligand-dependent manner and enhanced cell proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, inhibition of the Hh pathway as well as NF-kappaB suppressed the enhanced cell proliferation. Our data suggest that NF-kappaB activation is one of the mechanisms underlying Shh overexpression in pancreatic cancer and that proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells is accelerated by NF-kappaB activation in part through Shh overexpression.

Animals↗

Dextromethorphan premedication reduced postoperative analgesic consumption in patients after oral surgery.

OBJECTIVE: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist premedication reduces postoperative pain. In this study, we examined if NMDA antagonist premedication might reduce postoperative pain after oral surgery, testing dextromethorphen. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred eleven patients undergoing mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group A (n = 37), B (n = 38), and C (n = 36) patients were emphasis-placed on dextromethorphan 30 mg, diclofenac 25 mg, or placebo orally before surgery, respectively. Postoperatively, patients were allowed to use oral diclofenac, 25 mg, for postoperative pain relief. Postoperative pain was evaluated the 1st, 7th, and 14th day after surgery, respectively, by using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the number of diclofenac consumed. VAS score and the number of diclofenac consumption were compared among the groups. RESULTS: VAS score was similar among the 3 groups during the study period. Total postoperative diclofenac consumption was significantly less in group A than in group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dextromethorphan premedication reduced postoperative analgesic consumption after oral surgery.

Administration, Oral↗

Structure of the Tfb1/p53 complex: Insights into the interaction between the p62/Tfb1 subunit of TFIIH and the activation domain of p53.

The interaction between the amino-terminal transactivation domain (TAD) of p53 and TFIIH is directly correlated with the ability of p53 to activate both transcription initiation and elongation. We have identified a region within the p53 TAD that specifically interacts with the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of the p62 and Tfb1 subunits of human and yeast TFIIH. We have solved the 3D structure of a complex between the p53 TAD and the PH domain of Tfb1 by NMR spectroscopy. Our structure reveals that p53 forms a nine residue amphipathic alpha helix (residues 47-55) upon binding to Tfb1. In addition, we demonstrate that diphosphorylation of p53 at Ser46 and Thr55 leads to a significant enhancement in p53 binding to p62 and Tfb1. These results indicate that a phosphorylation cascade involving Ser46 and Thr55 of p53 could play an important role in the regulation of select p53 target genes.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Kinetic and structural studies on the catalytic role of the aspartic acid residue conserved in copper amine oxidase.

Copper amine oxidase contains a post-translationally generated quinone cofactor, topa quinone (TPQ), which mediates electron transfer from the amine substrate to molecular oxygen. The overall catalytic reaction is divided into the former reductive and the latter oxidative half-reactions based on the redox state of TPQ. In the reductive half-reaction, substrate amine reacts with the C5 carbonyl group of the oxidized TPQ, forming the substrate Schiff base (TPQ(ssb)), which is then converted to the product Schiff base (TPQ(psb)). During this step, an invariant Asp residue with an elevated pKa is presumed to serve as a general base accepting the alpha proton of the substrate. When Asp298, the putative active-site base in the recombinant enzyme from Arthrobacter globiformis, was mutated into Ala, the catalytic efficiency dropped to a level of about 10(6) orders of magnitude smaller than the wild-type (WT) enzyme, consistent with the essentiality of Asp298. Global analysis of the slow UV/vis spectral changes observed during the reductive half-reaction of the D298A mutant with 2-phenylethylamine provided apparent rate constants for the formation and decay of TPQ(ssb) (k(obs) = 4.7 and 4.8 x 10(-4) s(-1), respectively), both of which are markedly smaller than those of the WT enzyme determined by rapid-scan stopped-flow analysis (k(obs) = 699 and 411 s(-1), respectively). Thus, Asp298 plays important roles not only in the alpha-proton abstraction from TPQ(ssb) but also in other steps in the reductive half-reaction. X-ray diffraction analyses of D298A crystals soaked with the substrate for 1 h and 1 week revealed the structures of TPQ(ssb) and TPQ(psb), respectively, as pre-assigned by single-crystal microspectrophotometry. Consistent with the stereospecificity of alpha-proton abstraction, the pro-S alpha-proton of TPQ(ssb) to be abstracted is positioned nearly perpendicularly to the plane formed by the Schiff-base imine double bond conjugating with the quinone ring of TPQ, so that the orbitals of sigma and pi electrons maximally overlap in the conjugate system. More intriguingly, the pro-S alpha proton of the substrate is released stereospecifically even in the reaction catalyzed by the base-lacking D298A mutant. On the basis of these results, we propose that the stereospecificity of alpha-proton abstraction is primarily determined by the conformation of TPQ(ssb), rather than the relative geometry of TPQ and the catalytic base.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Quantitative analysis of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in pancreatic cancer.

Although telomerase activity is a promising diagnostic marker, clinical introduction of this marker for cancer diagnosis is still problematic due to the lack of means of evaluating sample quality. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), one of the subunits of telomerase, is also a promising diagnostic marker. In the present study, we did large-scale analysis of 88 pancreatic juice samples to determine the feasibility of quantitative analysis of hTERT mRNA for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We found significant differences in hTERT expression among carcinoma-derived, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN)-derived, and chronic pancreatitis-derived juice samples. Results showed that quantitative analyses of hTERT mRNAs are more useful in discriminating carcinoma from IPMN than from chronic pancreatitis. When the specificity was set at 100%, the sensitivity for differentiation between carcinoma and IPMN was 43.5%, whereas the sensitivity of cytologic examination was 22.0%. There were significant differences in hTERT expression among carcinoma cells, IPMN cells, and normal ductal cells isolated from pancreatic tissues by microdissection. Lymphocytes and hyperplastic epithelial cells isolated from tissues with the histologic appearance of pancreatitis showed various expression levels of hTERT. Our results suggest that quantitative analysis of hTERT mRNA in pancreatic juice is advantageous over cytologic analysis for differentiation between carcinoma and IPMN but probably not for differentiation between carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

MercuryII-mediated formation of thymine-HgII-thymine base pairs in DNA duplexes.

The very specific binding of the HgII ion unexpectedly and significantly stabilizes naturally occurring thymine-thymine base mispairing in DNA duplexes. Following this finding, we prepared DNA duplexes containing metal-mediated base pairs at the desired sites, as well as novel double helical architectures consisting only of thymine-HgII-thymine pairs.

Base Pairing↗

Correlation between change in body weight rather than current body weight and change in serum adiponectin levels in a Japanese population -- the Funagata study.

Serum adiponectin levels are decreased in obese subjects. We examined the association of current body weight (BW) and its change with a change in serum adiponectin levels. Serum adiponectin levels at the baseline (from 1995 to 1997) and the 5-year follow-up (from 2000 to 2002) examinations were evaluated in 1003 (M/F, 425/578; age at the baseline examinations, 58.3 +/- 11.7/57.5 +/- 11.0 years) Japanese subjects from a cohort population (N = 2013) of the Funagata study. Correlations and associations of BW at the baseline examinations and changes in BW between the baseline and the follow-up examinations (deltaBW) with changes in the serum adiponectin levels in the study period (deltaAdiponectin) were examined. Stepwise regression analyses revealed a significant correlation of the deltaBW (r = -0.233 and -0.204 for men and women, respectively; r = -0.324 for the upper tertile group divided based on their body mass index in women) with the deltaAdiponectin. However, the BW at the baseline examinations was not significantly correlated in both sexes. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that subjects who reduced their BW by 2 kg or more were 2.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.21-5.42; P = .014) and 8.24 times (95% confidence interval, 3.59-18.9; P < .001) more likely to be in the upper tertile of the deltaAdiponectin than those who increased their BW by 2 kg or more in men and women, respectively, independent of their BW at the baseline examinations. In conclusion, we showed here that the deltaBW was strongly associated with the deltaAdiponectin in both sexes, whereas the BW at the baseline examinations was not associated with the deltaAdiponectin, at least in women.

Adiponectin↗